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Wi-Fi Alliance® applauds FCC 5.9 GHz proposal

Austin, Texas and Washington, D.C. – December 12, 2019 – Today, the Federal Communications Commission took an important step towards addressing the growing need for unlicensed spectrum for Wi-Fi® use. Wi-Fi Alliance® thanks the Commission for its proposal to repurpose the lower 45 megahertz of the 5.9 GHz band to help support high-throughput broadband applications such as Wi-Fi. We look forward to reviewing this 5.9 GHz Band proposal in detail, and continuing to support the Commission in this and other initiatives that will deliver necessary mid-band spectrum to preserve Wi-Fi connectivity for millions of Americans.

About Wi-Fi Alliance®www.wi-fi.orgWi-Fi Alliance® is the worldwide network of companies that brings you Wi-Fi®. Members of our collaboration forum come together from across the Wi-Fi ecosystem with the shared vision to connect everyone and everything, everywhere, while providing the best possible user experience. Since 2000, Wi-Fi Alliance has completed more than 50,000 Wi-Fi certifications. The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ seal of approval designates products with proven interoperability, backward compatibility, and the highest industry-standard security protections in place. Today, Wi-Fi carries more than half of the internet’s traffic in an ever-expanding variety of applications. Wi-Fi Alliance continues to drive the adoption and evolution of Wi-Fi, which billions of people rely on every day.

“The rapid growth in device density and latency-sensitive apps are driving disruptive changes in wireless networks. Aruba joins Wi-Fi Alliance in applauding the FCC’s decision to issue a “fresh look” at 5.9 GHz NPRM that provides a balanced approach to meeting the needs of both wireless broadband and automotive interests. The addition of an additional 80 and 160 MHz wide channel in the upper 5 GHz without DFS requirement is significant to the enterprise customers we serve. This decision makes perfect sense in the context of the FCC’s 6 GHz rulemaking, and we urge expeditious decisions on both matters,” – Chuck Lukaszewski, vice president of Wireless Standards and Strategy for Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company

“At Broadcom, we are thrilled that the Commission has taken this important step in the 5.9 GHz band to make more spectrum available for Wi-Fi. This key mid-band spectrum offers a contiguous 160 MHz channel, which is essential for AR/VR, wearables and other future innovations. Unlicensed in the 5.9 GHz band, in concert with the 6 GHz band, could create a one-two punch to knock out the spectrum shortage and unleash the full power of Wi-Fi 6.” - Christopher Szymanski, director of product marketing and government affairs for Wireless Communications and Connectivity Division at Broadcom Inc.

“Unlocking the lower 45 MHz of the 5.9 GHz band for Wi-Fi will take us one huge step closer to having driverless vehicles on the road, providing them with the critical ability to communicate with each other and the environment around them, and ultimately making travel faster, safer, and increasingly more connected. This rule change will send ripple effects across automotive and technology industries, driving innovation, investment, and infrastructure improvement – and ultimately improving lives.” – Perry Correll, Director of Product Management, Extreme Networks

“Access to spectrum is key to unlocking the potential and societal impact of transformational wireless technologies. Intel welcomes the FCC’s decision to open additional spectrum in the 5.9 GHz band for unlicensed use to facilitate continued innovation in Wi-Fi.” – Carlos Cordeiro, Senior Principal Engineer for Intel Corporation and Technical Advisor to the Wi-Fi Alliance Board of Directors